Who is Melanie Collins? Meet CBS Sports' NFL sideline reporter
Melanie Collins is an American sports journalist who has worked for top networks such as Yahoo! Sports, ESPN, and CBS Sports. She has covered high-profile events, including the NBA Finals and the Super Bowl. In 2025, Melanie marked a career milestone via an Instagram post that read:
Just like that, seven years in the NFL in the books!
Source: Getty Images
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Key takeaways
- Before her promotion to the NFL, Melanie served as a sideline reporter for college basketball and football on CBS Sports Network.
- She has interviewed legendary athletes, including Patrick Mahomes II, Kirk Cousins, Tyreek Hill and the late Kobe Bryant.
- Collins has appeared on national television reporting for networks such as AccuWeather, E! News and NBA TV.
- She formerly hosted Big Break and Golf Channel's Driver Vs. Driver.
Melanie Collins' profile summary
| Full name | Melanie Collins |
| Nickname | Mel |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | 6 February 1986 |
| Age | 39 years old (2025) |
| Zodiac sign | Aquarius |
| Birthplace | State College, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Alma mater | Penn State University |
| Eye colour | Blue |
| Hair colour | Blonde |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Marital status | Dating |
| Partner | James Neal |
| Profession | Sports reporter, television personality |
| Social media | Instagram X (Twitter) |
Melanie Collins is a Keystone State native: A look at her roots
Mel (39 as of 2025) was born on 6 February 1986 in Pennsylvania, USA. Her parents are Doug and Nancy Collins. She particularly shares a close relationship with the latter. On 9 May 2021, the sportscaster penned her mother a heartfelt message on Instagram, saying:
Thank you, Mom, for always supporting me in everything I do. I love you!
Collins also took to the platform to celebrate her special day on 14 May 2023. Her post read:
Happy Mother's Day! I am so lucky to be your daughter.
Source: Original
She has two brothers
Collins is the eldest of her two siblings, Kurtis Grunt and Christian Collins. On 5 September 2023, she jokingly referred to the former as their mom's favourite in an Instagram post that she captioned:
Thank you for being my lifelong best friend and laughing at my jokes after all these years. Mom loves you.
To celebrate his natal day in February 2024, Melanie wrote:
Happy birthday, Kurtis. I am luckiest to have you for a brother.
Source: Instagram
Melanie has an impressive educational background
After graduating from State College Area High School, Melanie attended Pennsylvania State University and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism in 2008. She also holds an Interior Design degree from the New York Institute of Art and Design.
Collins has covered various major sporting events: Exploring her career
Melanie launched her career while still a student at the university. She worked at AccuWeather while bartending on the side.
Later, Collins landed an internship with PBS's WPSU-TV. She worked with NBA-TV and Turner Sports earlier in her career, covering NBA games and reporting for Big Ten Network. According to The Spun, Melanie has been covering the NFL for CBS since 2018.
Her broadcast crew features Trent Green and Kevin Harlan. Before her promotion to the NFL, Collins was the face of Yahoo! Sports.
She covered major events including the FIFA World Cup, World Series, NFL Draft, NCAA Football National Championship and the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Melanie has also contributed to CSN Bay Area, NBC Sports, Inside Edition, Good Morning America and E! News Now.
Source: Getty Images
What has Melanie Collins said about her job?
According to The Sun, Melanie put up an "Ask Me Anything" post on her Instagram stories in 2022. When asked about her successful broadcasting career, she responded:
I could not be more grateful for this job and my entire team. Shout out to the coaches and players, who are always gracious with their time and make my work so much fun. Thank you to all fans as well.
Melanie Collins is off the market: Insights into her love life
Melanie reportedly met former professional NHL star James Neal in 2014. They later started dating but always kept details about their relationship low. During an October 2022 interview with Sports Spectrum, Collins shared an update on their relationship, saying:
I am so private that no one knows I am engaged!
The sports journalist was romantically linked with Scottie Upshall, another hockey player, from 2009 to 2013.
Source: UGC
FAQs
Melanie is active on social media. As of 1 September 2025, she commands 164k Instagram followers. Below are some frequently asked questions about her:
Does Melanie Collins have children?
Collins is not married and does not have kids. However, she has purportedly been dating James Neal for over a decade.
What is Melanie Collins' height?
Melanie reportedly stands 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm) tall and weighs 60 kilograms (132 lbs). Her body measurements are approximately 34-25-36 inches (86-63-91 cm).
Final word
Melanie Collins' natural talent and broadcasting prowess rank her among the top female sports journalists. She has been CBS Sports' NFL sideline reporter for about seven years.
READ MORE: Meet Colleen Wolfe: Key facts about the NFL sports commentator
Briefly.co.za shared an article about American sports broadcaster Colleen Wolfe. She is known for her engaging personality and great understanding as a sports pundit. Wolfe appears on Good Morning Football: Weekend and contributes to the Around the NFL podcast.
Colleen has covered major events like the Super Bowl, NFL Draft, and Scouting Combine. In 2019, she was ranked 33rd on The Big Lead's '40 Under 40 Sports Media Talent' list.
Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
